Video footage emerges after Conor McGregor arrested in Ireland

Footage has emerged of Conor McGregor driving his $US187,000 ($A249,000) Bentley moments before he was arrested by police in Dublin.

The Irish UFC icon was charged with dangerous driving during an incident where his Bentley Continental GT was also seized.

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In a video broadcast on TMZ Sports, amateur footage captures McGregor driving neck-and-neck alongside another vehicle on a Dublin highway.

The footage appears to be filmed by a passenger in a third vehicle, with two men heard shouting "up the Mac" after apparently recognising the fighter.

Suddenly, sirens could be heard wailing in the background as the camera pans around to see a police car in pursuit of McGregor.

It's unclear what speed the cars were travelling at before McGregor was pulled over, with the fighter pleading his innocence to the charges afterwards.

The Irish Independent reported that the 33-year-old was arrested for allegedly driving recklessly.

He was pulled over by Irish authorities, who seized McGregor's car before it was later returned to him.

The Irishman was charged with dangerous driving - which carries a maximum fine of around $7,300 and up to six months in jail.

He was later released on bail.

McGregor has denied the allegations against him, and said he was driving to the gym when he was stopped.

He also said through a spokesperson that he passed drug and alcohol tests at the police station.

Conor McGregor's history of run-ins with the law

The former two-weight UFC champion has had a number of legal issues in recent years, including other traffic violations.

McGregor was fined about $587 for speeding in 2017, and was fined more than $1400 in 2019 after he pleaded guilty to assaulting a man at a pub that year.

According to the Irish Independent, McGregor was told during that court hearing that he had 18 previous convictions — many for road traffic offences.

An Italian DJ and television presenter filed a criminal complaint last year alleging that McGregor punched him in the face at a party.

'The Notorious' also got into an altercation with musician Machine Gun Kelly at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards, and threw a dolly at a bus in New York the week of a fight in 2018.

McGregor has also had several other rape and assault allegations made against him throughout his career.

The Irishman — who was the world’s highest paid athlete last year — hasn’t fought in the UFC since his loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021, where he fractured his left tibia and fibula.

It's unclear when McGregor will make his return to the octagon, despite the 33-year-old's insistence that he has every intention of doing so.

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